MUNUC 2024

Topics

1. Access to Women's Healthcare
2. Mass Incarceration

About the committee

The Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM) is the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly. This committee is tasked with looking at issues relating to social and humanitarian issues, as well as human rights. In this committee, delegates will be tasked with looking at two critically important issues that affect many around the world today. Topic A is Access to Women’s Healthcare, where delegates will be asked to look at the issues worldwide around providing accessible and affordable healthcare for women. Topic B is Mass Incarceration, which will make delegates consider how we can ensure that prisoners are treated humanely and given basic human rights. Topic A: Access to Women’s Healthcare Over the past few years, the world has not prioritized women’s healthcare in the ways that it should. There is a lack of monetary investment into research and resources that could work to treat diseases and healthcare issues specific to women. These issues span from period poverty and lack of access to menstrual hygiene products to better support for general reproductive health and ways to fight maternal mortality. We want to ask delegates to look specifically at ways in which the world can expand access to women’s healthcare and make it a global priority. Topic B: Mass Incarceration In systems of Mass Incarceration, there is a lack of focus on how to reform prisons and those incarcerated within them. Incarcerated individuals are frequently subject to mistreatment in the form of solitary confinement or convicted without due process. Additionally, delegates should consider the severe effects of mass incarceration not just on the ability of the incarcerated to reintegrate into society post incarceration, but also its effects on the family and community of the incarcerated. Delegates will be challenged to look at this issue from multiple perspectives as they consider how to reform prisons as an institution and address the wide ranging socioeconomic effects of Mass Incarceration.

Countries

Topics

1. Weapons of Mass Destruction
2. State-Sponsored Violence

About the committee

The Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC) is the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly. The committee concerns itself with questions of international importance regarding the security and demilitarization throughout all countries and regions, while ensuring that citizens around the globe remain protected. In particular, DISEC is concerned with the regulation of all member states’ armaments with particular care taken to work towards the UN’s goal of total disarmament. This year, the thematic topic of DISEC will be focused on the ways that states can leverage their positions of power to harm citizens abroad and domestically. Specifically, delegates will consider how to regulate tools and weapons used to harm citizens both abroad and domestically. Topic A: Weapons of Mass Destruction Certain biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons pose a significant threat to the delicate game of international peace and security. Commonly referred to as ‘weapons of mass destruction,’ these technologies have the potential to kill thousands in minutes which makes their regulation and total elimination of the highest priority. While the international community has come together to develop protocols to address the proliferation of these weapons, there is little doubt that continued research advancements only create greater possibilities of the development of more dangerous weapons. The use of these weapons in recent conflicts exacerbates concerns that these protocols are not heavy-handed enough to dissuade countries from their use during conflict. This topic will give delegates the opportunity to contend with the ways in which states can come together to ensure the protection of citizens around the world, particularly in areas of conflict, through regulation and disarmament. Topic B: State-Sponsored Violence Governments, democratic and otherwise, have wielded the tools of political, economic, and military power to enforce unjust tyranny against their own citizens. Extrajudicial arrests, forced disappearances, and violent espionage activities are some of the many ways in which governments have exploited their lofty positions to enact political agendas contrary to the will of their citizens. State-sponsored violence represents one of the highest levels of exploitation of citizens as they have no recourse when their government is actively involved in the violence they face. While many of these actions are committed under the guise of national security, citizens domestically and abroad know that these actions are taken in the interest of furthering secret agendas. No country is unscathed by the effects of state-sponsored violence. Delegates will grapple with how the international community can work together to ensure the protection of domestic citizens around the world.

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Topic

AD HOC

About the committee

Top of the morning to all delegates or otherwise reading this page! We are verY excited to bring yOu MUNUC’s Ad Hoc Committee of the Secretary-General! While we can not reveal the topic of the committee until the eve before the conference, we hope yoU all will keep a keen eye on this page as we get closer to the conference daTe. IntrigUe and secrets are afoot, and your searching efforts will Be rewardEd. Due to the nature of this committee, it is our hope @ MUNUC 36 that you all will try your utMost to thInk on your feet, and to reSpond to a varieTy of crisEs we throw at you, but we hope the expeRience will be fun and we will aiM to support you every step of the way. In your preparations for this committee, we enCourage you to focus on the basics of crisis, including speaKing, dirEctive writing, backroom notes, and mErgers. We also plan on releasing regular hints, but we would caution against relying too literally upon them. The goal of these hints is to give an insight into what the topic could possibly be, not to stress people out further! Given the nature and difficulty level of this committee, an application for this committee will be released in the fall. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to any of your committee executives! *Note: The Ad Hoc Committee will require a delegate application, to be released by email to all registered delegations. Prior MUN experience is recommended for this committee, though all are welcome to apply.

Countries

Topic

Empowering Women through New Forms of Finance

About the committee

The Economic and Financial Committee (ECOFIN), is the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly focused on economic and financial issues. In this committee, delegates will be focused on discussing the economic state of their country and of the world, specifically through analysis of member state economic policies, economic growth and stability, and global financial issues. In addition to its work within the UN, ECOFIN also collaborates with other international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to support global economic development. In this committee, delegates will be focused on the topic of Empowering Women through New Forms of Finance. While this is a nebulous topic, delegates will be encouraged to focus on some specific issue areas–financial literacy, cryptocurrency, microloans, and technological access. Financial literacy programs for women can provide access to resources and knowledge necessary for managing finances and building wealth. Cryptocurrency can provide an alternative to traditional financial systems, offering greater financial privacy and security, especially important for women in countries where transactions may be monitored or controlled by the government. Microloans can be used to empower women, especially in developing countries, where they may have limited access to traditional credit or face discrimination. Technological access is another important issue area within the topic of empowering women through new forms of finance, as women in developing countries often have limited access to technology, which can hinder their ability to take advantage of financial resources and opportunities. Ultimately, empowering women through finance can promote greater gender equality and support sustainable economic development. Delegates should note that ECOFIN will be the only single topic GA committee at MUNUC 36. As you consider and discuss the challenges presented by the topic of Empowering Women through New Forms of Finance, bear in mind the unequivocal necessity for multilateral collaboration and a wide variance of perspectives for effective resolutions to be passed. The expansive nature of this topic will require inventive and unconventional solutions, tackling not only short-term economic issues, but also the long-term impact on the economic wellbeing of women across the globe. *Note: This is a double-delegate committee.

Countries

Topics

1. The International Adoption System
2. Data Privacy Laws

About the committee

The Legal Committee (LEGAL) of the United Nations is the sixth committee of the United Nations General Assembly, and is responsible for the promotion of the progressive development of international law and its codification. The committee discusses a wide range of legal issues, including the creation of new international legal instruments, the interpretation and application of existing international law, the settlement of international disputes, and the rule of law. Now, the LEGAL committee is responsible for looking at two important issues in the international legal sphere: The International Adoption System and Data Privacy Laws. Topic A: The International Adoption System Thousands of children are adopted internationally every year through the International Adoption System, an institution that involves dozens of UN member nations. The International Adoption System has suffered from a myriad of problems ranging from the well-being of children, citizenship, and even human trafficking. The problems presented by the International Adoption System affect both developed and developing nations as well as their diplomatic relationships. Although stricter guidelines have been enforced in recent years, their adoption and implementation at the global level has been far from comprehensive. Delegates are tasked with creating and developing new international frameworks and guidelines to ensure the protection of children within the International Adoption System. Topic B: Data Privacy Laws Have you heard that your phone is listening to everything you say? Or have you had to click “accept cookies” to keep online shopping? Both of these are questions related to LEGAL’s Topic B: Data Privacy Laws. As the use of digital technology continues to increase, data privacy has become an increasingly important issue globally. Companies operating across borders must navigate complex and often conflicting regulations, and governments often struggle to enforce their own privacy laws when data is stored or processed outside their jurisdiction. These challenges highlight the need for greater international cooperation and standardization in addressing data privacy issues. Delegates are tasked with considering the growing problems surrounding Data Privacy Laws as well as developing new solutions that can be implemented internationally and at the regional level.

Countries

Topics

1. The Use of Private Military Companies
2. Non-Self-Governing Territories

About the committee

The Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL) is the fourth committee of the United Nations General Assembly. It is intended to tackle issues that pertain to decolonization and related political issues. The purpose of this committee is to find solutions to the generational and historically derived impacts of colonialism found throughout the world. This may include but is not limited to exploitation by race, class, gender and more that may be due to the direct actions of countries in the past. The agenda for this session of the SPECPOL will focus on Private Military Companies (PMCs) and Non-Self-Governing Territories (NSGTs) and how to address each issue respectively. Topic A: The Use of Private Military Companies Private military companies (PMCs) are entities that are heavily involved in modern warfare. More specifically they often serve to provide supplemental or complementary support to domestic and overseas military operations. Their support roles can range from armed infantry units to logistics support, training, recon, and more. Their versatility makes them very appealing to many national governments in need of extra support and many countries, such as the United States, actively rely on them for modern warfare. However, there are many ways in which these companies are problematic and further global imperialism. One of the major issues with PMCs is that they allow many states to write blank checks, giving them plausible deniability for any actions taken by the PMC. In dealing with this topic, delegates will have to tackle modern issues of the military industrial complex, address the role of force in state building, and suppress continued threats of imperialism throughout various parts of the world. This topic will allow delegates to reimagine how we view the role of armed forces and consider creating new paradigms for international relations. Topic B: Non-Self-Governing Territories The UN charter defines a Non-Self-Governing Territory (NSGT) as one “whose people have not yet attained a full measure of self-government.” The UN’s list of existing NSGTs is down to 17 from the original total of 72 and includes territories such as the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, and Guam. Despite the significant progress that the UN has made since the list was created in 1946, there is still much more work that needs to be done for the success of this global decolonization effort. Delegates will be tasked with creating a new framework that allows for NSGTs to eventually gain their independence and prevents the future colonization of overseas territories. In constructing this framework, delegates will be encouraged to consider the political aspirations and varying levels of readiness for independence of each NSGT, while being careful to ensure that newly independent territories are able to find a place on the world stage so that their people can achieve prosperity. Delegates must determine how best to reconcile these issues and more in order for colonialism to finally become a relic of the past.

Countries

Topic

Guidance on Global Assemblies and Events

About the committee

Only the most momentous of global events have necessitated a UN Special Meeting. Special Meetings are held when member states have called for immediate action, debate, and global cooperation. This special session is called in direct response to the outrage surrounding the 2022 Qatar World Cup. This body will set the guidelines and expectations for international assemblies and global events, and the solutions proposed will be in accordance with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDGs 8, (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Topic A: Guidance on Global Assemblies and Events The purpose of this committee is to assess the spectacle of global events and present solutions that promote positive change regarding their planning, location selection, follow-through, and de-escalation in their aftermath. This session is called due to the criticism surrounding the Qatari World Cup in 2022: its location and selection process, the humanitarian crises that occurred during its preparation, the criticism of its attempts to appeal to the international community, the cultural clashes that occurred throughout the games, and the commentary surrounding the spectacle following. Ultimately, these concerns are not unique to the 2022 World Cup. Rather, international events, especially sporting matches, musical festivals, and public spectacles, are critical sociocultural and geopolitically historic occasions that necessitate international conversation and coordination. Whether it be climate change, culturally conscious tourism, infrastructure development, international cooperation and jurisdiction, cultural exchanges, concerns about human trafficking, or sports as a metric of international cooperation, delegates will be tasked with debating it here at the conference. Delegates will be encouraged to address this topic creatively and holistically, focusing on economic and environmental solutions in addition to social and cultural ones.

Countries

Topics

1. Citizenship for Stateless Peoples
2. The Role of Technology in Assisting Refugees

About the committee

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is an intergovernmental agency of the United Nations that is responsible for the protection and assistance of refugees and displaced persons internationally. This body’s main objective is to evaluate and address migrant crises around the globe, which will not only mean managing the influx and emigration of people but also focusing on the root causes of these phenomena. Understanding this principle, this committee will be focused on resolving the issues concerning stateless peoples, both in terms of their displacement internationally and permanent solutions for their lack of statehood. Additionally, this committee will be discussing the role of technology, which can be used to do both great good and great harm, in assisting refugees. Topic A: Citizenship for Stateless Peoples The issue of stateless peoples, individuals who do not enjoy citizenship under any national laws, has proven to be a pervasive and pertinent issue for numerous regions of the world, in addition to domestic strife and international concern. From the Kurds in the Levant to the Hmong and Rohingya in Southeast Asia, stateless peoples have been stripped of their sovereignty at the hands of historical phenomena such as colonialism, ethnic cleansing, and religious persecution. One of this committee’s primary concerns will be dealing with how to assist stateless peoples economically, socially, and politically by providing them with substantial short-term resources and support, all while adhering to the wishes and demands of the already established nation states in which these stateless peoples inhabit. Additionally, this committee must also grapple with a possible permanent solution for these stateless peoples or groups: statehood. Should these people be granted sovereignty? If so, where would their new states exist? What existing states would be affected, and how would they react? How would this decision impact the international community? While pursuing this avenue could solve the lack of sovereignty that these stateless groups struggle with, delegates must proceed with caution, since it also has the ability to create other, larger geopolitical conflicts and problems. Topic B: The Role of Technology in Assisting Refugees As technology has advanced over the past several decades, it has inevitably been used to assist refugees. Some of these applications have been in the planning and monitoring of refugee camps through conducting background checks and ensuring communication between refugees and their families. Advancements in sanitation and medicine have also allowed refugee camps to become much cleaner and safer. Now, with continued technological advancement, artificial intelligence may be used to place refugees in jobs and help them adapt to their new communities, and blockchain technology may be used to give refugees aid payments without needing them to live in camps, in turn allowing them to function more independently. However, as with almost all scientific developments, technology also has the potential to create problems for refugees. For example, while big data has allowed background checks and job placements to become much easier, it can lead to discrimination and persecution if the information falls into the wrong hands, which has already been happening, for example, to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. In discussing this topic, the UNHCR will need to decide which technologies to research, how they should be implemented, and how to prevent them from being used for harm.

Countries

Topics

1. Restorative Justice and Reducing Recidivism
2. International Criminal Tribunals and Accountability

About the committee

The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) creates policies for the United Nations with regards to international initiatives that aim to combat both intra-national and international crime, in addition to addressing systems of criminal justice administration. More specifically, in MUNUC 36, the CCPCJ’s Topic A will involve a discussion on the merits (or lack thereof, according to some nations) of restorative justice and how recidivism, the tendency of a criminal to reoffend, may be reduced. In Topic B, we will focus on international criminal tribunals and accountability, with accountability including both that of nations which house individuals being indicted by international criminal tribunals and that of international bodies themselves. Topic A: Restorative Justice and Reducing Recidivism Our first topic will involve an exploration of the different philosophies that nations follow in their criminal justice systems, including both punitive and restorative justice. In addition, this topic will review how nations can reduce recidivism, not only during incarceration but also after an individual is released. As such, this topic will also have a social focus; it is of particular interest to ensure that former convicts maintain access to employment and housing, among other things necessary to rejoining society, in order to prevent other criminal offenses following release. As particular nations tend to have starkly disparate views when it comes to whether prison should be seen as a punishment, we expect this topic to fuel interesting debate. Topic B: International Criminal Tribunals and Accountability Our second topic explores international criminal tribunals, which are either temporary or permanent courts that address cases that involve serious violations of international law, including both criminal and humanitarian law. These criminal tribunals typically take place when national courts are unwilling or unable to investigate and prosecute individuals suspected of violating international law. As such, the accountability of nations is of paramount importance to the use of international criminal tribunals. We will be addressing the use and power of these international tribunals in trying individuals and also examining the role that particular nations play in upholding international criminal justice.

Countries

Topics

1. Economic Development of Indigenous Communities
2. Healthcare Supply Chains

About the committee

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) supports developing countries by helping them achieve the advantages and securities of the globalized economy in an equitable and productive manner. It strives to ensure that countries are equipped with strategies to deal with the potential drawbacks of greater economic integration by providing analysis, facilitating consensus-building, and offering technical assistance. In particular, this committee will address the economic development of indigenous communities and the healthcare supply chain on an international scale. To successfully achieve its aims, the UNCTAD relies on the cooperation and participation of member states as well as the support of other UN agencies. Topic A: Economic Development of Indigenous Communities The economic development of indigenous communities has long been a concern in the world due to the continuous injustice these communities have faced. For hundreds of years, indigenous communities have been forced to leave their lands and homes while facing oppression and discrimination. Consequently, indigenous communities have been unable to grow economically, becoming one of the most impoverished and poorest communities in the world. This issue regarding the well-being of indigenous people is not simply one for developing countries but also for developed countries. Indigenous people consistently fall behind the non-indigenous populations due to poorer education and higher unemployment rates. As delegates balance globalization with community identity and the interests of individual countries, they will discuss topics including sustainable economic initiatives, education, employment, healthcare, and more. The UNCTAD hopes delegates will engage their governments to assume greater responsibility for protecting indigenous communities, thus ensuring that economic needs are met for all. Topic B: Healthcare Supply Chains Healthcare supply chains are intricate networks of systems, components, and processes that work symbiotically to ensure medicine and other healthcare supplies are manufactured, distributed, and provided to patients. These supply chains face challenges on multiple stages, including globally, nationally, and regionally, such as overnight shipping, hidden costs, drug shortages, data shortages, and more. For many healthcare supply chains, tracking supplies from its production to its destination is not enough, as this can be a matter of life and death. Thus, healthcare optimization is needed to lower health costs, enhance revenues, and most importantly, provide higher quality care. As delegates work together to solve challenges occurring in healthcare supply chains, they will also be challenged to think critically about accessibility, sustainability, and responsibility in healthcare for both providers and patients and the effect it has on the well-being of nations.

Countries

Topics

1. Corporatization of Music
2. Trafficking of Cultural Objects

About the committee

From musical and greater artistic expression to the recovery and preservation of cultural artifacts, this iteration of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will highlight a more unconventional discussion on cultural sovereignty and individual autonomy, as it is represented in the fine arts. Through discussion of these topics, delegates will deal with micro- and macro-level problems, where delegates will be concerned with individual label practices and the exploitation of musicians as well as the impact such practices have on foreign relations and the economic and cultural sovereignty of entire regions throughout the world. Topic A: Corporatization of Music “Please don’t stop the money…I mean music!” While less than a handful of multinational, conglomerate labels and streaming platforms control the vast majority of the music industry, consumers are commoditized according to compartmentalized genres, while artists are frequently exploited in and out of the recording studio. Delegates in this committee will have to tackle issues such as the autonomy of artists, unequal resource distribution in music genres and countries, the individuality and preservation of traditional music traditions, and anti-competitive practices by major recording platforms, music festivals, and ticketing agencies. Furthermore, the rise of new technologies related to AI has sent shockwaves across the music industry. On the one hand, record labels are now capable of producing inauthentic productions of artists’ voices, from auto-tuning edits to outright artificial voices and instrumental generators. On the other hand, streaming services, most notably Spotify and Apple Music, now have the ability to identify one’s interests in particular genres and feed the user with already established artists through their system of recommendations. Delegates will have to contend with the effects of these dynamics, most notably the seclusion of independent and/or self-supplying artists who, because of the style of music they create, are not seen as economically effective for these wide-reaching corporate bodies. Topic B: Trafficking of Cultural Objects “That belongs in a museum … or whatever the rightful owners want to do with it.” During discussion of topic B, delegates will travel the world to protect cultural artifacts from being trafficked or stolen. In dealing with the present, delegates will be confronted with challenges such as dealing with black markets, addressing abuses of cultural artifacts, and developing infrastructure to protect works of art. In looking to the past, delegates will have to address past injustices that have affected the current state of the fight against trafficking in cultural objects. This committee will also deal with issues on both a global and individual scale. Cultural exploitation and the trafficking of cultural objects have caused harm to nations equally, and delegates will have to confront the influence and legacy of colonialism on historical and artistic artifact trade.

Countries

Topics

1. Impacts of Energy Transitions on OPEC
2. Response to Global Supply Chain Disruptions

About the committee

Why do oil companies make so much money? They know how to pump up their profits! The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries(OPEC) controls approximately four-fifths of the world’s entire crude oil reserves and two-fifths of its production. As such, they possess an enormous influence over the global oil market, the broader global economy, and international relations. If you think handling all this power is a slick operation, you’re in for a crude awakening. The global push towards greener energy represents a major threat to OPEC and the economies of OPEC’s member states. Additionally, recent years have demonstrated the major challenges that come with global supply chain disruptions. Moving forward, OPEC must manage these difficult and contentious topics while simultaneously ensuring the future of OPEC and maintaining economic stability. Topic A: Impacts of Energy Transitions on OPEC As the world moves towards a more sustainable future, reducing carbon emissions and addressing climate change, OPEC is faced with the challenge of balancing the comings of this new energy landscape and maintaining the member states’ economies. With external countries seeking alternative energy sources, the diversification of OPEC’s energy portfolios is becoming increasingly necessary. As many of the representative bodies within OPEC rely on oil exports to maintain their economy, adapting to meet the challenges requires OPEC to transform its business model to embrace renewable energy sources.This transition presents an opportunity for OPEC member states to diversify their economies and become leaders in the growing renewable energy industry. However, it will also require significant investments and policy changes that OPEC must satisfy. As delegates of this Model UN committee, you are tasked with exploring the impact of the energy transition on OPEC and developing innovative solutions to address this critical challenge. Topic B: Response to Global Supply Chain Disruptions As society transitions into a more sustainable future, OPEC’s economic future faces major challenges which include the volatility of oil prices as well as competition from other companies aiming to reduce their carbon footprint, shifting towards renewable energy sources. This becomes a challenge for OPEC’s supply chain as the demand for its production diminishes. The shift in the supply chains forces OPEC to begin navigating the increasing prices of oil, creating conflicts between other oil-producing countries such as Russia and China. To ensure the stable production and distribution of crude oil, OPEC must navigate through the complex and ever-changing global energy market while balancing economic, environmental, and geopolitical concerns. *Note: This is a double-delegate committee.

Countries

Topics

1. Environmental Diversity and Conservation
2. Closing the Income Distribution Gap

About the committee

The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) is a regional bloc of Latin American and Caribbean states created on December 3, 2011, in Caracas, Venezuela. As an intergovernmental organization, CELAC brings together 33 regional countries to advance regional unity and integration; balance political, economic, social, and cultural diversity; and promote regional growth and development, among other issues. The cooperation strives to be a unique, uniting voice between the region and other international organizations as a structured decision-making body for regional programs through the consensus of its member states. As a regional body, the committee will explore the relations between member states to address the region’s pressing issues through traditional MUN elements and a time-sensitive crisis-style update that will require draft resolutions and directives. Topic A: Environmental Diversity and Conservation Climate change is a threat to the world, and growing concerns regarding its impact have overwhelmed the Latin American and Caribbean region. In the past few decades, the region has been plagued by extreme weather, loss of biodiversity, deforestation, rising sea levels, pollution, and scarcity of both food and water. Home to a fourth of the world’s forests, the Latin American and Caribbean regions are known for their rich ecosystems and unique, endangered, species. As a hotspot of nature’s activities,the local regions have been trying to address issues at the national level through joint initiatives facilitated by organizations such as CELAC. Collectively, the member states have called for international environmental conventions, the reduction of greenhouse emissions, sustainable developments, and general ecological conservation, all of which have received international recognition reflective of the region’s progress. Based on the impacts of climate change and the region’s noticeable efforts to tackle its subsequent effects, the committee will focus on the growing cooperation between member states. Delegates will focus on issues regarding extreme weather, sustainable economic developments, industries, deforestation, and pollution. The goal is to maximize cooperation within Latin America, address foreign influences, and create a standard for addressing the issue. Topic B: Closing the Income Distribution Gap Latin America and the Caribbean have long struggled with income inequality, despite having abundant natural resources and a diverse economic base. As one of the most unequal regions globally, the disparity between the rich and the poor has resulted in numerous negative socio-economic consequences, such as hindering economic growth, exacerbating poverty, and reducing access to education and healthcare. Having recognized the urgency to address this challenge, CELAC has made closing the income distribution gap a top priority for its member states. In response, the member states have been working on a variety of initiatives to tackle the issue, including implementing progressive tax systems, promoting inclusive growth, investing in education and vocational training, and fostering social protection programs. These efforts aim to provide equal opportunities, reduce poverty, and enable social mobility for all citizens in the region. In this topic, the committee will explore the diverse approach member states take, evaluate their effectiveness, and identify best practices and innovative solutions to reduce income inequality. Furthermore, the committee will discuss regional collaboration, sharing of knowledge and resources, and the role of international organizations in supporting these efforts. By addressing the income distribution gap, CELAC hopes to contribute to a more inclusive, equitable, and prosperous future for the Latin American and Caribbean region. *Note: This is a double-delegate committee.

Countries

Topics

1. Intelligence Sharing Among Member States
2. Addressing the Migrant Crisis in the Aegean Sea

About the committee

The North American Treaty Organization (NATO) is a strategic security alliance of 30 nations from North America and Europe. NATO’s primary mandates are to protect the security and freedom of Allied states through political and military means, maintaining the community’s shared democratic values. Notably, an attack against one member state is perceived as an attack against all members, positioning NATO as a defensive security force. In recent years, NATO has seen its responsibility to protect extend beyond its own members, with the Alliance having developed relationships with other partners all across the globe. To these partners, NATO provides security support, coordination of global security efforts, and facilitation of dialogue for the promotion of peace on an international scale. In this committee, delegates will have the opportunity to engage in this discourse, tackling a plethora of the world’s most pressing political issues to embody the motto: in discussion, a free mind. Topic A: Intelligence Sharing Among Member States Intelligence sharing throughout NATO’s history has been characterized by periods of tension alongside cooperation. Since the Cold War, the domain of intelligence has expanded from a primary focus on political and military affairs, to themes such as technology, economy, culture, and the environment. As information and analyses are shared between different intelligence agencies, both within and between countries, intelligence sharing improves situational awareness and facilitates effective decision-making. The flow of intelligence among NATO’s member states has become increasingly important due to the rise of complex security threats such as terrorism, cyber attacks, and disinformation campaigns. Intelligence sharing has become an indication of allyship and cooperation in combating shared threats, while also serving as a key element of competition. Nevertheless, obstacles hinder the process of information sharing, including legal and bureaucratic barriers, technological disparities, cultural and linguistic differences, and differences in intelligence priorities and capabilities. Furthermore, politicized relationships among member states, combined with varying levels of mutual trust, lead to keeping intelligence within borders. In this committee, delegates must balance domestic intelligence priorities with the common goal of improving intelligence sharing among NATO member states. Building trust and cooperation among intelligence agencies and national governments to strengthen NATO’s collective defense capabilities will be paramount. Topic B: Addressing The Migrant Crisis in the Aegean Sea The Aegean Sea acts as a major transit route for migrants and refugees fleeing conflict, persecution, and poverty in NATO’s southern borders in the Middle East and North Africa. The migrant crisis, fueled by illegal trafficking and criminal networks, is one of the greatest humanitarian crises in Europe in recent decades. Forced displacement and human rights violations cause tens of thousands to risk the journey across the sea, but with the Mediterranean as the world’s deadliest migration route, thousands of migrants and asylum seekers have died attempting to reach the European Union. Since 2016, NATO has dedicated itself to international efforts combating this humanitarian crisis. While NATO has been involved in conducting patrols and surveillance operations to monitor and deter illegal migration and human trafficking, addressing the central causes of the crisis proves more difficult. Delegates will debate various approaches to strengthening border security and surveillance, providing support for countries hosting large numbers of migrants, and addressing the root conflicts inciting migration through diplomatic and developmental initiatives. NATO member states must work together to develop a comprehensive and coordinated approach that addresses both the immediate humanitarian needs of migrants and refugees as well as the underlying causes of the crisis.

Countries

Topics

1. The Future of the European Commission After Brexit, 2020
2. The Greek Debt Crisis, 2009

About the committee

The European Commission (EC) is the Executive body of the European Union. Containing 27 member countries and the President, the committee promotes the general interest of the EU by proposing and enforcing legislation as well as by implementing policies and allocating the EU budget. In addition, the European Commission can propose and enforce new laws, and represent the European Union in international bodies. The main purpose of the European Commission is to uphold European order and stability and manage the European Union’s finances. Topic A: The Future of the European Commission After Brexit, 2020 The European Union has suffered a terrible blow after one of its most important members, the United Kingdom, voted to leave the EU in 2014. Delegates must now determine how to best move the European Union forward financially without a major economic partner, and determine how to deal with external security threats such as Russia. Delegates must also deal with negotiating the status of European laws and regulations in the UK, including the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights. Delegates must also deal with Gibraltar the Ireland-Northern Ireland border, which are now technically international boundaries following Brexit. Topic B: The Greek Debt Crisis, 2009 The Great Recession has struck Europe in a devastating fashion. Many of its members are now in severe debt, including Greece, which has recently defaulted on its debt. Greece’s entry to the Eurozone in 2001 was already troubling, as financially it did not meet all of the Maastricht standards necessary entry, including a debt higher than its GDP coinciding with a 3% budget deficit. The European Union is now facing the consequences of its lenient standards as a debt crisis now cripples the continent. It is up to delegates to determine whether to bail Greece out, or to force them to leave the Eurozone. Such a decision has both economic and political ramifications, as European representatives decide how important Greece is to the European community.

Countries

Topics

1. Enhancing Inter-EU Connectivity through Railways
2. Standardizing Private Operations on Railways

About the committee

The European Railway Agency was created in 2004 as a part of the European Union’s second railway act with a mission of growing rail transport to strengthen connections between her member states. By 2006, these tasks were by no means complete. European railways are dealing with falling passenger and cargo numbers due to the rise of low-cost airlines and rising car ownership. Furthermore, Europe’s railways are far from unified, as a wide array of signaling systems, electrification voltages, and other crucial systems dot the continent, making cross-border rail transport even more difficult. This isn’t even mentioning the former Eastern Bloc countries with lagging infrastructure that recently joined the European Union, leading to the challenges in unifying European railways. The member states of the European Union have entrusted this committee to guide Europe’s railways into a brighter new millennium. Topic A: Enhancing Inter EU connectivity through railways As we enter into the new, interconnected millennium, we must ensure that our railways can keep up as well. This committee will focus on how to break down transnational barriers that present challenges for existing and potential customers throughout the continent—barriers which include material disparities, different standards in maintenance, and perceptions of railways and public transportation. Through this topic delegates should formulate ways in which EU member states can harmonize their domestic railway policies towards one competitive continental standard to prepare Europe in a rapidly growing and interconnected world. Topic B: Standardizing Private Operations on Railways The introduction of new policies have opened the rail infrastructure to a variety of routes that older state-owned railways like SNCF (France), DB (Germany), and NS (Netherlands) would never think of operating. However, the introduction of new services brings a host of new issues to be discussed by the ERA. Should private operators be allowed to compete with state-owned railways on their most profitable routes? How should infrastructure owners divide up capacity on busy lines? How can recent additions to the European community overcome differences in infrastructure quality and standards to fully partake in the European railway network? In finding a solution to these problems, delegates should address technical and regulatory issues surrounding the privatization of European railways, ensuring fairness and openness in the ongoing network expansion.

Countries

Topics

1. Future Technological Investment for National Security
2. Trade Policy and Protectionism

About the committee

In this committee, delegates will enter the heart of US democracy during the Ronald Reagan administration by simulating the day to day financial concerns that underlie US governmental policy. 1985 was a pivotal time in American international relations: specifically, this period saw the decline of the Soviet Union, large-scale competition in the international markets, and much more. As senators with a diverse range of backgrounds and political ideologies, delegates will act to dictate American fiscal and trade policy. Topic A: Future Technological Investment for National Security In this topic, delegates will debate investments for potential futuristic technologies. Reagan’s economic strategy was to outspend the Soviets on every front with the hope that the Soviets would bankrupt themselves trying to keep up. A couple examples of this policy in action was the Star Wars program and the Superconducting Super Collider. The goal of the Star Wars program was to send a laser defense system into orbit that would shoot down any intercontinental ballistic missiles that threatened the US or our allies. The Superconducting Super Collider had the potential to become the largest and most powerful particle collider ever built until it was canceled after it went over budget. Through this topic, delegates will be challenged to compromise with one another as they seek to fund exciting new technologies that would revolutionize the future. Topic B: Trade Policy and Protectionism This topic will allow delegates to dive into the economic policies and political landscape of the 1980s. During the Reagan administration, the US shifted significantly towards free-market friendly policies, which had ramifications on domestic and international trade regulations. With these new trade regulations in mind, delegates will work together to shape trade policies that balance the interests of domestic producers and consumers, as well as the US’s interests abroad. Additionally, delegates will explore the long-term effects of Reagan economics (“Reaganomics”) and trade agreements, such as NAFTA, on the US economy. Finally, delegates will have to balance the other events happening during this era, including the rise of Japan’s economy and multiple oil crises.

Countries

Topics

1. Expanding Broadband Access for Underserved Communities
2. Ensuring Consumer Protection Against False Advertising

About the committee

“The most powerful tool we have as a society is communication. Without it, we are nothing.” – Lee Iacocca Bird noise, blue checkmarks, chat bubbles and more are things that we have come to commonly associate with communication. The rise of technology in our present day has allowed us to refine the boundaries of communication; expanding the scopes of communication into new forms such as the internet and social media. With such a wide array of structures being born within communication, someone must ensure the safety and development of it. Therefore, it’s the job of the Federal Communications Commission (or FCC) to regulate, promote consumer satisfaction, as well as expand broadband access for underserved communities. Topic A: Expanding Broadband Access for Underserved Communities While many consider these aspects of communication to be integral to their lives, there exist many communities that are yet to experience what the internet (and social media) has to offer. This is crucial, as that means that a portion of our population is widely un-communicated. As well as lacking the access to resources that might provide a positive impact to education, professional development, and more. Access to communication is almost a necessity as it is a privilege; therefore, it is the job of this committee to ensure the rapid development (and maintenance) of broadband access across the nation. Finally, we must ensure that these communities are able to make proper use of the new infrastructures built. Topic B: Ensuring Consumer Protection Against False Advertising The spread of false advertising has had a twofold negative impact on the general public – not only does false advertising harm the consumer through financial loss, frustration, and even potential harm, but businesses alike suffer the loss of credibility, legal ramifications, and damaged reputations. Taken to the extreme, the loss of trust in the free market leads to a damaged economy due to a lack of trust from consumers. Thus, we must keep false advertising under control. This committee will discuss the role that the FCC needs to play in the control of false advertising as it relates to telecommunications.

Countries

Topics

1. Conditions of Admission of a State to Membership in the United Nations (Article 4 of the Charter)
2. Asylum (Colombia v. Peru)

About the committee

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations. The ICJ was established in 1945 by the UN Charter and began work in 1946 as the successor to the Permanent Court of International Justice which was dissolved following the establishment of the ICJ. The purpose of this court is to settle disputes between states in accordance with international law and give advisory opinions to help establish certain international legal issues. The rulings produced by the ICJ help to serve as primary sources of international law. The methods of meditation of the ICJ in which we will focus on are contentious issues and advisory opinions. With contentious issues being ones in which the ICJ’s decision is binding between the states involved. While advisory opinions function to give legal advice to specified United Nations bodies and agencies rather than between aggrieved states. Topic A: Conditions of Admission of a State to Membership in the United Nations (Article 4 of the Charter) Following the creation of the United Nations, twelve states applied for admission with all of their applications being rejected by the Security Council as a result of a veto imposed by at least one of the permanent members of the Council. In response to the rejection of these applications, a proposal was made to admit all the candidates at the same time which would circumvent the Security Council. This question required the interpretation of Article 4 of the UN Charter, thus resulting in the General Assembly referring the question to the International Court of Justice. This would be the first instance of the ICJ giving an advisory opinion and it is the ICJ’s job to analyze the UN Charter, these unsuccessful applications, and the proposal in order to advise the General Assembly in its admission of all future states. Topic B: Asylum (Colombia v. Peru) In 1949, the Colombian Embassy in Lima, Peru granted diplomatic asylum to Victor Raúl Haya de la Torre, a Peruvian national who was a political leader who was accused of spurring a military rebellion. Peru attempted to challenge Colombia’s asylum status of Haya de La Torre at the International Court of Justice on the basis of the Pan-American Havana Convention on Asylum created in 1928 which created the framework in which asylum could be granted by a foreign embassy to a political refugee who was a national of the territorial State. It is up to the ICJ to settle this dispute between Colombia and Peru, to interpret the Pan-American Havana Convention on Asylum, and determine the fate of Haya de La Torre.

Countries

Topics

1. Strengthening International Cooperation in Combating Piracy
2. Regulating Fishing and Whaling

About the committee

Founded in 1948, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a specialized agency with 175 member states tasked with protecting international shipping, maritime security, and environmental preservation. Charged with overseeing international shipping transports, which account for over eighty percent of global trade, the IMO is an essential institution for the preservation of global commerce. MUNUC 36 will simulate the Assembly, which meets every two years to address the future of maritime regulation and security to promote the IMO’s values of safety, security, and environmental preservation. Topic A: Strengthening International Cooperation in Combating Piracy Formally defined by the IMO as “any illegal acts of violence or detention, or any act of depredation committed for private end by the crew or the passengers of a private aircraft, and directed on the high seas,” piracy continues to threaten the safety those in international waters and undermine the security of the global trade network. Primarily occurring in the Gulf of Aden, the Western Indian Ocean, and the Gulf of Guinea, piracy is one of the top concerns of the IMO. In order to tackle such a complex issue in a comprehensive manner, member states of the IMO will need to work with each other, as well as other UN agencies, to protect the freedom of the seas and integrity of international trade. We challenge delegates to combat piracy with a strategy strong in breadth and depth. If international criminals are crafty, then international managers and regulators must be even more creative. Increasing international cooperation will be a vital component of all solutions, as well as identifying both emerging methods of piracy and root sources of this crime. Topic B: Regulating Fishing and Whaling The world’s oceans are a principal source of income for millions of people around the world, they are not an unlimited resource. A lack of comprehensive regulation has seen the oceans being exploited, disrupting natural ecosystems and marine life. Furthermore, international fisheries crime is a significant and propagating threat to both the earth’s marine environment as well as the fishing industry. Unregulated and illegal fishing not only deplete fish stocks but also undermine efforts to promote sustainable fisheries management and ocean conservation. Over the past several decades, the IMO has worked to introduce regulations to help protect the environment through conventions such as MARPOL and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, however there is much more to be done to protect the earth as much as possible from harmful fishing and whaling. We are asking delegates to find new strategies to expand surveillance of current international fishing and whaling, and novel regulations and punishments to further encourage preservation of our great oceans.

Countries

Topic

Hybrid

About the committee

By the end of World War II, two global superpowers emerged ready to expand their influence throughout the world–the United States and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The US and the USSR recognized each other as competitors and quickly turned to the arena of ballistic-missile development to demonstrate their rivalry. However, by 1957, the decade-old Cold War moved to a new frontier–space. With the launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957, the world, and specifically the United States, had to reckon with the specter of an increasingly powerful Soviet Union. President Eisenhower did not address the press about Sputnik 1 for five days, and, when he did so, he declared that the launch did not raise his apprehensions one iota. While the President may have appeared unphased to the public, internally, the US government knew it had to respond. By November 3, 1957, the USSR had successfully launched a second spacecraft into orbit, while all the US had to show for its efforts was a monumental failure in its first attempt at launching a spacecraft into orbit through Project Vanguard. The US had to come to terms with the USSR’s out-performing it in rocket technology and with the fact that it was losing both the arms race and the space race. The US Congress responded to the mounting pressure by reshaping America’s space program with the National Aeronautics and Space Act in 1958. The 1958 Act ushered in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Council (NASC)–the very council that this committee will be simulating. Chaired by the President herself, this committee will be responding to a fraught space program requiring immediate action. As scientists, military members, politicians, and other high-ranking officials, delegates must stay aware of the developments of a tense geopolitical crisis while also keeping in mind the potential of space exploration as a symbol of peaceful coexistence and human progress. While the actual historical progression of the Space Race is important, delegates will be able to rewrite the history of American space exploration as we know it through crisis-style debate in Sessions I, II, and III. In Sessions IV and V, the committee will switch to General Assembly format to facilitate the creation of an International Space Treaty–a testament to what was done earlier in committee and the commitments of each delegate to international interests. Being a delegate on NASC will be an out-of-this-world experience, and we cannot wait to see you there and see your ideas.

Countries

Topic

Hybrid

About the committee

An increasing presence of Western powers reaches a breaking point for Japan with the incursion of Commodore Matthew Perry’s ships in Japanese waters in 1853. After roughly two and a half centuries of relative isolation under the Tokugawa shogunate, it has become increasingly obvious that Japan can no longer remain isolated. With these monumental developments and the increasing pressure to open itself to trade, the question now becomes this: how will Japan enter the world stage? Old powers are challenged by new ideas, and with compounding threats from foreign influence, increasing civil unrest, a disruption of the balance between shoguns and feudal lords, and the collapse of Japan’s monetary system, the nation is thrown into chaos. As Japan enters one of its most tumultuous eras, this committee finds itself in a precarious position. Whispers of rebel forces seeking to overthrow the Rōjū Government have reached the palace. Civil unrest is picking up in the feudal state of Japan—citizens are worried about agricultural disruptions, troubled by the instability of the monetary system, and concerned about the ability to modernize the country so it can effectively compete with newly risen foreign powers. As if domestic upheavals weren’t enough, there have been reports of threats to sovereignty from various Western nations who come armed with immense military and economic power. As delegates representing members of the Rōjū Government, there are many questions to ponder. How will this government work to preserve Japan’s sovereignty on the global stage while simultaneously addressing the issues it encounters in the homeland? Will it stand against the might of the rebellious Daijō-kan Government that seeks to modernize and Westernize the great nation of Japan? Or will the Rōjū Government be lost to history–a victim of changing times? The first four sessions of this committee will consist of crisis-style debate, while the final session will consist of writing a treaty between the two sides of the JCC in General Assembly format.

Countries

Topic

Hybrid

About the committee

An increasing presence of Western powers reaches a breaking point for Japan with the incursion of Commodore Matthew Perry’s ships in Japanese waters in 1853. After roughly two and a half centuries of relative isolation under the Tokugawa shogunate, it has become increasingly obvious that Japan can no longer remain isolated. With these monumental developments and the increasing pressure to open itself to trade, the question now becomes this: how will Japan enter the world stage? Old powers are challenged by new ideas, and with compounding threats from foreign influence, increasing civil unrest, a disruption of the balance between shoguns and feudal lords, and the collapse of Japan’s monetary system, the nation is thrown into chaos. As Japan enters one of its most tumultuous eras, this committee finds itself in a precarious position. The looming presence of the Shogunate, a centuries-old military order which governs the islands of Japan, remains a dominant presence and a threat to the wave of democratic reforms (mainly focused on Westernization, industrialization, and the abolishing of feudal titles) which revolutionaries seek to instill. Further threats come from other nations demanding open markets and prompt meditation on how best to ensure that Japan is always properly defended going forwards. As delegates representing members of the Daijō-kan Government, there are many questions to ponder. Between the collapse of Japan’s monetary policy, oppressive treaties with foreign powers, and growing citizen unrest, how will this budding government work to move Japan forward and out from under the thumb of the Shogunate? Will the Daijō-kan prevail, or will the growing chaos and power of the Shogunate prove to overcome the stirrings of democracy? The first four sessions of this committee will consist of crisis-style debate, while the final session will consist of writing a treaty between the two sides of the JCC in General Assembly format.

Countries

Topic

Hybrid

About the committee

To say that the past century has been a tumultuous one for Spain would be something of an understatement. After a brief and chaotic twenty-three-month-long period as a Republic in the 1870s, the Bourbon monarchy was restored. The next fifty-six years of constitutional monarchism were something of a mixed bag for Spain. Thanks to extreme, protectionist policies, Spanish industry began to develop. However, Spain also lost its last overseas colonies—Puerto Rico, Cuba, Guam, and the Philippines—during a war with the United States. In 1931, King Alfonso XIII was deposed and the Second Spanish Republic was born. The writers of the Second Republic’s constitution set off to modernize Spanish politics and culture by granting women the right to vote, legalizing divorce, stripping the nobility of their titles, and, most significantly, disestablishing the Catholic Church and granting the various regions of Spain the option of increased autonomy. However, the progressive nature of the Second Republic sparked a considerable backlash, particularly amongst the military and the Catholic Church. In 1936, Spain plunged into a three-year civil war between the Republicans and the Nationalists, ending in the surrender of Republican forces and the Nationalist leader Francisco Franco becoming the dictator of a fascist Spain. The Civil War left Spain in ruins, and the early policies of Francoist Spain only exacerbated its problems. First and foremost, Spain’s position as a fascist dictatorship meant that it was both diplomatically and economically isolated until the 1950s. Moreover, Franco pursued an economic policy of autarky (economic independence) in an attempt to make Spain economically self-sufficient, ultimately resulting in a stunted Spanish economy. In the 1950s, amid the crystallization of Cold War divisions between the US and USSR, the West started to embrace Franco as an anti-Communist bulwark, and the Spanish economy began to rapidly grow with the abandonment of autarky. Nevertheless, Francoist Spain remained a deeply repressive and ultra-conservative nation up until Franco’s death in 1975. In 1969, Franco decided to name Prince Juan Carlos de Borbón as his successor. Following Franco’s death, Juan Carlos I, the now King of Spain, has decided to initiate the process of democratization, with the first democratic elections being held in June of 1977. Now, as members of the Cortes Constituyentes, it is your job to draft the new constitution for Spain. The committee will consist of two GA sessions, where delegates will draft and ratify a constitution, followed by three crisis sessions in which the recently constructed constitution will be critically tested by the political turmoil of a newly democratic nation.

Countries

Topic

Hybrid

About the committee

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC)—perhaps more than any of the United Nations’ various other organs—can stake a reasonable claim to being one of the world’s single most powerful institutions. Founded in the wake of the Second World War, the UNSC’s goals are straightforward: uphold national sovereignty, defend human rights, promote individual freedoms, and—above all—preserve global peace. Even at the best of times, the UNSC’s goals are ambitious, to say the very least; when tensions between nations—or tensions within nations—boil over, they seem more elusive than ever. As delegates representing the member states of the United Nations Security Council as it existed in 1956—just over a decade after the end of World War II—the work of preventing the world from collapsing in on itself now falls to you. About a decade after the conclusion of the Second World War came 1956’s Suez Canal Crisis, as decades of neocolonial tensions and competing commercial interests came to a head. The Canal, which ran between the Mediterranean and Red Seas, was constructed primarily (and owned completely) by the Suez Canal Company, a joint venture between the United Kingdom and France. Shortly after Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser was sworn into office, he announced the imminent nationalization of the Canal, triggering France, the United Kingdom, and Israel—a regional ally shared by the two—to respond with a show of extraordinary force, organizing a joint military operation intended to reassert the Suez Canal Company’s control over the canal. The so-called Tripartite Alliance’s invasion of Egypt sparked heated international discourse around the lingering specter of neocolonialism in the Middle East, interrupted global commerce for months on end, reoriented a number of key international relationships, and foregrounded sovereignty, liberty, and agency as fundamental considerations on the global stage. All of these are things we expect you—as representatives who both wield incalculable amounts of diplomatic power, and find themselves shouldered with equally incalculable amounts of diplomatic responsibility—to reckon with and attempt to resolve. Over the course of UNSC at MUNUC 36, you’ll have to navigate your way around a commercial crisis of epic and unprecedented proportions, negotiate competing stakeholder relationships, and broker treaties between bitter enemies. Most importantly, you’ll need to begin the long, arduous, and protracted process of decolonization while war brews in the East, and while discontent looms large. The first three sessions of the UNSC, 1956 will likely be more crisis-oriented, while the next three will incorporate elements of debate traditionally associated with General Assemblies. We’re looking forward to meeting you in February, and we hope you’re as excited about MUNUC 36 as we are!

Countries

Topic

Crisis

About the committee

The year is 1918. The Western Front of the first World War has been stalemated for three long years, with both sides sustaining heavy casualties but neither making any significant territorial gain. Germany has just launched the Spring Offensive in a final attempt to achieve a quick victory before American troops can arrive and tip the balance of the war in favor of the Allies. You are a member of La Dame Blanche, a spy network based in German-occupied Belgium with more than a thousand agents operating throughout Belgium, Northern France, and Luxembourg—an essential element of the allied intelligence apparatus and estimated to have provided as much as 70% of all military intelligence collected by the Allies. As a delegate, your mission, if you choose to accept it, will be to further the goals of La Dame Blanche by aiding in the Allied efforts of gathering intel and thwarting the German Spring Offensive. As the German offensive on the Western Front continues, it will be the responsibility of this committee to do whatever it takes to disrupt Germany’s plans through reconnaissance, sabotage, collaborating with Allied leaders, and more. Intercepting German communications, breaking codes, and carrying out reconnaissance are crucial tactics for anticipating Germany’s next move. Delegates will engage in front-room diplomacy to further the objectives of La Dame Blanche and will further their own goals and agendas through their mission critical arcs in the backroom. Committee will be supplemented by crisis breaks that will reveal key pieces of intelligence regarding the progression of the war and possible espionage as a result of careful arc-building. Delegates, we encourage you to maneuver this environment delicately while finding ways to work together and solve crises collaboratively.

Countries

Topic

Crisis

About the committee

Originally consolidated under Cosimo de Medici in 1434, the House of Medici is an established political entity and banking family in the Republic of Florence, a vital political, economic, and cultural force of Europe. Particularly notable, in the mid-15th century, the government of Florence was composed of the nine council members, or the signoria, and the head of the council, the gonfalonier. Despite the electoral lotteries for the offices, Florence’s most influential families, especially the Medicis, currently have a true iron grip on the Republic’s government. Renaissance, humanism, and… family rivalries? Join Lorenzo de Medici as he begins his de facto reign of the Florentine Republic in 1470. With his friends, family, and advisors, Lorenzo must juggle his patronage of Florence’s arts and culture, the draining Medici Bank, Papal elections, and, most importantly, his family’s indirect rule over the Republic. Internationally, peace within the Italic League must be maintained and the safety of Italy secured from European powers such as the Holy Roman Empire and France. At the same time, rival families in Florence and foreign powers seek to destroy the Medici Family and decay their influence at any cost. Will the Medicis’ power persevere or perish by the hand of Lorenzo the Magnificent? Only time, and the strategically placed city council puppets, will tell. Welcome to the Cabinet of Lorenzo de Medici: the Golden Age of Florence.

Countries

Topic

Crisis

About the committee

Established by George W. Vanderbilt III, the Biltmore Estate (the largest privately owned house in the United States), spread its roots in the surrounding community. With the nearby Biltmore village serving as housing for many of the estates’ workers, Biltmore became a thriving community which existed beside and in connection to the quickly expanding city of Asheville. With influence in Asheville politics, investment in the arts, culture, and people of Appalachia, and expansion of new practices such as forestry, the Biltmore Estate’s influence and power extends far beyond the estate grounds—into the surrounding city of Asheville and to the Appalachian people. In 1914, the Biltmore Estate seemed to stop for a second—George W. Vanderbilt III died from complications from an appendectomy and everything was left to his wife, Edith Stuyvesant Vanderbilt. At his death, the Biltmore Estate was overextended as a direct result of his obsession with creating a self-sustaining Estate built on their business endeavors and forestry. Those with influence over the actions of the estate must meet together to decide how to not only continue the legacy of the late Vanderbilt, but determine the future of the grounds, investments, projects, and staff of Biltmore. Delegates, acting as members of this influential group, will respond to the growing concerns left after the eccentric patriarch had passed away. Overblown passion projects, too many acres to properly manage, and even ventures in local crafts and products, all with the purpose of creating a self-sustaining estate are now under a new direction: one chosen by the delegates. Will the Biltmore estate reduce its ambition or further expand, directly competing with the influence of Ashville? This is the primary question facing delegates after the death of George Vanderbilt, at least until the many projects he started before his death realize they no longer have direction.

Countries

Topic

Crisis

About the committee

The year is 1967 and the Bechuanaland Protectorate has become the independent Republic of Botswana. This new nation, led by Sir Seretse Goitsebeng Maphiri Khama, is one of limited resources and population but the discovery of massive diamond deposits has sent a shock through the nation. Domestically, the discovery of these diamond deposits proved to be a major economic catalyst for this new nation, changing it from the agricultural economy that it once was. With great economic benefit, however, comes great responsibility. As the cabinet of Sir Seretse Khama, you will be tasked with mitigating all of the issues that arise because of this sudden change—dealing with the fallout of the shift from agriculture and negotiating with companies that seem to want to take advantage of the mines. Beyond the economic and upfront issues of the committee, the cabinet will have to deal with public health, environmental and other issues that may arise as a consequence of being a young state. In addition to these issues, the influence of foreign powers both on the continent and abroad pose a great risk for this young government, especially as news of the diamond deposits spread. Will you help this fledgling nation find its identity and grow in power, or will you step to the wayside and allow it to fall to the contentious issues that will arise?

Countries

Topic

Crisis

About the committee

Responsible for the most biodiverse state in the country, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has its hands full fighting against the threats of endangerment and extinction on all ends. 2023 will bring a year that will challenge the capacity, vision, and power of the department in new, exciting, and existential ways: the department will have to navigate tensions between the California fishing industry and the threat of extinction, manage a public health crisis bubbling from rising diseases in animal populations, juggle the concerns of eco-activists regarding endangered animals, and handle the economic, political, and social ramifications of some of the biggest agriculture industries in the state as they make waves across the country. Beyond the day to day conflicts that come with overseeing a state with over 6500 species of plants and close to 750,000 total animals, the CDFW will also find itself at the center of political and bioethical debates regarding cloning, de-extinction and the utilization of biotechnology in ecological preservation. With animals facing extinction across the state and the obligation to mitigate these issues falling squarely on the CDFW, members of the department will need to grapple with multidimensional corporate, political, and policy implications of executing cutting-edge biotechnology, while considering outlash from the surrounding intellectual and political community. This body will be tasked with defining the future of the California de-extinction movement, placing the CDFW in the driving seat to support the development and implementation of state programs that conserve and recover federally threatened and endangered inland fish and wildlife species. Put another way, this committee will hold immense regulatory and governing power over the leading innovations in the de-extinction movement, many of them mechanizing cutting edge biotechnology to clone and revive extinct or near-extinct species. While members of the CDFW will be encouraged to dream big to define the future of de-extinction and ecological conservation, they will also need to carefully consider their interactions with the media and the rest of the country. After all, the eyes of every human (and probably a couple non humans) will be carefully trained on the CDFW to see how the state with the most native species in the country handles the problems thrown their way.

Countries